José Rey Toledo, Jemez Pueblo Painter

José Rey Toledo (1915-1994), Shobah Woonhon (Morning Star) of Jemez Pueblo, was a man of remarkable breadth and accomplishment. His diverse career encompassed roles as an art instructor, education health specialist, administrator of Indian health programs, actor, educator, lecturer, muralist, and ultimately, a painter - the focus of our exploration. Toledo's early artistic spark was ignited by observing his cousin, the esteemed Velino Shije Herrera (Ma Pe Wi) of Zia Pueblo, at work. Despite this early inspiration, his pursuit of academic excellence led to a period of limited artistic output from the 1950s through the 1970s, culminating in Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees from the University of New Mexico (UNM) and a Master of Public Health from the University of California Berkeley. Following his extensive academic endeavors, Toledo returned to painting. His varied passions, however, meant his body of painted work remained relatively small.

The significance of Toledo's artistic contributions was recognized with a retrospective exhibition at the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture in Santa Fe in 1994, shortly before his passing. His paintings often depicted traditional Pueblo subjects - dynamic single or group dance figures and scenes of village life. Characterized by a vibrant sense of movement, his figures were typically presented against unadorned backgrounds, allowing the rich and compelling colors to take center stage. Toledo's deep understanding of art was further evidenced by his tenure as head of the art department at the Santa Fe Indian School after his initial graduation from UNM.

Reference and Recommended Reading: DANCING SPIRITS: José Rey Toledo, Towa Artist (1915-1994) by Susan Scarberry-García for the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture exhibit

TAGS: Jemez Pueblo, Velino Shije Herrera - Ma Pe Wi, Zia Pueblo, paintings